Non-refillable bottle.



PATENTBD DEG. 26. 1905. H. W. LLYB.

NITED STATES PAQENT opinion.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed August14, 1905. Serial No. 274,071.

T0 @ZZ whom it m/rtg/ concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY WILBUR LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Longbranch, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Non-Refillable Bottle, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact description'.

My invention relates to a bottle or other receptacle; and the main object thereof is to provide means for preventing the refilling of the receptacle after it is once emptied. I accomplish this object by the use of a stopper, and I preferably use a plurality of these devices and provide means whereby the stopper in a folded condition can be introduced and means for automatically unfolding the stopper after it is introduced and released in the neck of the bottle, said first-named means operating to prevent the removal of the stopper after it is unfolded or expanded.

My invention comprises other features and accomplishes additional objects, as will appear below.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 isacentral vertical sectional view of a bottle-neck provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the ordinary stopper removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a plan of one of the Stoppers in a folded position. Fig. 5 is a plan of the same in an unfolded or expanded position, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The neck of the bottle or receptacle is blown or otherwise formed with two annular grooves a and and with a partition c. This partition is located in the neck ata point below the ordinary stopper d, which is preferably employed, and is provided with an opening c, which is substantially triangular in form or is made in such a shape as to receive one of the folded Stoppers when in folded position. As shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, these stoppers are composed of a plurality of segmental plates e, pivoted together at a central point e and each provided with a projection e2, which is folded upon itself. These projections are adapted to engage with each other, as shown in Fig. 6, when the stopper is unfolded, so as to prevent movement beyond a certain point. lYhen the stopper is folded, it has the appearance shown in Fig. 4, and a spring f is provided Whch may extend from the edge of one plate to the adjacent edge'of the one at the other end of the series. This spring acts when the plates are released to unfold them, as will be'readily obvious. Instead of this form each pair of plates may be connected together by a direct connecting-spring, and in this case the principle will be the same. The bottle-neck adjacent to the groove may be provided with by-passes g; but these will not usually be necessary, as will be explained below.

The operation of the device is-as follows:

Before any of the movable parts shown in Fig. l are introduced into the bottle the latter is filled, and then the lower of the two Stoppers while in folded position is introduced through the opening c into the groove a. It is then released and assumes the position shown in Fig. 3. This stopper is provided with certain additional features not described above with reference to both Stoppers. In the first place it is provided with a series of valves t, opening freely upward and preferably of the Hat-valve type. These valves are provided for the purpose of permitting liquid to flow out, but preventing it from flowing back. It is also provided with a packing or cork around its circumference to prevent the passage of liquid around it. After this stopper is placed in position the other one is introduced into the groove b. This stopper is not necessarily' tight between the joints or between itself and the walls of the groove, and consequently liquid can How through it in either direction. The by-passesg may be provided for the purpose of facilitating the passage of liquid; but this stopper is intended to be so constructed that the by-passes will not be necessary. The purpose of this stopper is to prevent tampering with the real stopper below, which effectually serves to preventk the introduction of liquid. After this stopper is introduced the ordinary stopper l is placed in position, as shown. It will be seen that with the lower stopper made in such form as to effectually prevent the discharge of liquid into the bottle and the upper stopper acting to prevent tampering with the lower stopper the bottle will be effectually sealed against the introduction of liquid. The partition c is sufcient to prevent tampering with the upper stopper, and this partition instead of vbeing in the form shown may extend clear to the mouth IOO of the bottle as an outlet for the liquid. The cork would then be of the form of the opening c'.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A receptacle having a neck provided with an annular groove, and a foldable stopper held in said groove, said stopper being provided with packing to prevent the discharge of liquid through it in either direction and with valves opening in one direction to prevent the passage of liquid into the receptacle.

2. A receptacle having a foldable stopper, means in the neck of the receptacle for holding the stopper in stationary position, and a second stopper located above the first.

3. A receptacle having a foldable stopper, means in the neck of the receptacle for holding the stopper in stationary position, a second foldable stopper located above the first, and means preventing the removal of the stoppers when unfolded.

4. A receptacle having a foldable stopper, means in the neck of the receptacle for holding the stopper in stationary position, a second foldable stopper located above the first, and means preventing the removal of the stoppers when unfolded, said means comprisinga partition having openings of substantially the size and shape of the stoppers when folded.

5. A receptacle having a foldable'stopper, means in the neck of the receptacle for holding the stopper in stationary position, a second foldable stopper located above the first,

and means preventing the removal of the stoppers when unfolded, each of said Stoppers comprising a series of plates pivotally connected together at the center of the stopper, and means for unfolding said plates to present a circular periphery.

6. A receptacle having a neck provided with a pair of annular grooves, one located above the other, a partition above the upper groove having a substantially triangular opening, and a pair of foldable Stoppers, one located in each groove, said Stoppers being of substantially triangular form when folded.

7. A bottle having' a pair of Stoppers therein, one of said Stoppers being formed of a series of plates pivoted together and having means for moving' them into unfolded or eX- panded position, and means for limiting that motion. w

8. A bottle-stopper comprising four segmental plates pivoted together at their apeXes, a spring for swinging said plates about their pivot so as to cause them to assume an eX- panded or unfolded position representing a complete circle, and stops on the plates for preventing their motion beyond a certain point.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY WILBUR LLOYD.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. HOWLAND, FRED WALLER. 

